Longevity Cells Found

Scientists at the Salk Institute report they have found a component of brain cells that could explain how the aging process occurs. The scientists found that certain proteins, called " long-lived protein supporting" (extremely long-lived proteins – ELLP), found on the surface of the nucleus of neurons, is thought to have longevity in living creatures.

This microscope image shows extremely long-lived proteins, - ELLPs, glowing green on the outside of the nucleus of a rat brain cell. DNA inside the nucleus is pictured in blue. The Salk scientists discovered that the ELLPs, which form channels through the wall of the nucleus, lasted for more than a year without being replaced. Deterioration of these  proteins may allow toxins to enter the nucleus, resulting in cellular aging. (Picture from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/)

While the age of most of the total protein in two days or less dead. Salk Institute researcher identifies, there are cells in the mouse brain ELLPs as old as the organism. Their findings are reported April 9, 2011 in the Journal Science. Salk scientists were the first to discover an important intracellular machinery, which includes the protein components of this age. The results showed that the latter protein lifetime, apparently without being replaced. Although according to religion, that lived and died all in the hands of God, but scientists want to know what there is behind this role.

Disclosed, ELLPs cell lines formed on the surface of the core transport, which controls the gate materials in and out of cell protein. These cells turned out, had something to do with longevity. It is thought to be an advantage, if it does not change over time. Unlike other proteins in the body, ELLPs not replaced when they are subjected to chemical modification of deviant and other damage.

"Damage to ELLPs can weaken the ability of three-dimensional transport channel consisting of a core protein to protect cells from toxins," says Martin Hetzer, a professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at the Salk Laboratory, who led the research. These toxins can alter cell DNA, and thus the activity of the gene, resulting in cellular senescence.

Martin W. Hetzer. 
(Picture from: http://www.salk.edu/)

Funded by the Ellison Medical Foundation and the Glenn Foundation, he conducted medical research in-depth about the existence of these mysterious cells. Hetzer's research group is the only laboratory that investigated the role of transport channels in the world, called the nuclear pore complex (NPC), the aging process. Previous studies have shown that changes in gene expression underlie the aging process. But, until the Hetzer lab discovery that mammals 'NPC has the Achilles' heel, allowing toxins to enter the nucleus DNA damage. The scientific community has had a few solid clues about how the gene changes occur.

"Fundamental defining feature of aging is the decline in functional capacity keselurahan ability of various organs, such as heart and brain," says Hetzer. "The decline in yields and damage to homeostasis, or internal stability, in the cells making up the organs. Recent studies in several laboratories have been attributed to disruption of protein homeostasis cell function decline."

Results Hetzer's team reported that the decline in neuronal function may stem from a worsened ELLPs, as a result of damage from time to time. "Most of the cells, no neurons, reduce damage to the functional components of proteins through the process of protein turnover, in which the potentially impaired replacement of protein with a functional copy of the new," says Hetzer.

"The results also showed that the decrease in the nuclear pore, may be a general aging mechanism that causes age-related defects in nuclear function, such as the loss of a young gene expression program," he added. The findings were thought to prove, no relevance to understanding the molecular origin of neurodegenerative disorders such as aging and Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

In previous studies, Hetzer and his team found a large filament of neurons in the nucleus of old rats and young rats are traced to the cytoplasm. Filaments are associated with various neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease. Is one of the molecules is the cause of disease could not be determined.

In the previous study, Hetzer and his team documented the age-dependent reduction in NPC function in healthy aging rat neurons, which is a laboratory model of human biology.

Three years ago Hetzer decided to investigate whether the NPC plays an important role in contributing, to the onset of aging and certain neurodegenerative diseases. Some members of the scientific community warned that such studies are too bold and will be difficult and expensive to do. But Hetzer continue in business despite warnings from experts.

In another study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have shown, they may be able to monitor the aging process in the brain using MRI techniques to measure the brain lactic acid levels. Their findings suggest that increased lactate levels before other aging symptoms, and can therefore be used as an indicator of aging of age-related diseases in the central nervous system.

"It's exciting to think about, that we are one step closer to understanding what happens as the brain ages. And how changes in brain metabolism, may be important for early age-related changes and disease," says Professor Lars Olson, who led the study.

The research group using mice, the aging process to investigate the relationship between damage to mitochondria and organe responsible for energy production and changes in cell metabolism as well as during the aging process. Previous studies have shown a link between mitochondrial dysfunction and age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

In the current study, published in Prociding National Academy of Sciences, (issue of March 20, 2012) the researchers showed that damage to the mitochondria slowly increases with age in the rat brain. And cause the reversal of certain gene expression, which is responsible for the formation of lactate. They also explained that the brain lactate levels may rise before the other indices to be old, and can be detected using non-invasive technique of magnetic resonance imaging.

"The study was conducted on rats, but the same techniques can also be used in humans. So there is a hope that someday doctors might be able mengnanlisa your brain, check and help determine the age by using MRI," says Lars Olson.

In addition to Lars Olson's research group at Karolinska Institutet, scientists from the U.S., Germany, and Britain took part in the study. This group will now continue the search for new knowledge, trying to understand the role of high lactate in the brain. *** [DEDI RISKOMAR | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 24052012]

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